Parents and Guardians bring your child’s ETR, IEP, and list of two or three concerns and meet with area representatives from O.C.E.C.D. Leave with a better understanding of your child’s IEP and how to work with your school to develop plans for the upcoming school year. Limited spots are available so gets your scheduled today! Appointments begin at noon with the last appointment scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Slots are 45 minutes each. Call 330-677-9263 or e-mail
info@zanesinc.org to schedule your time today!

The 9th Annual Special Needs Acceptance & Inclusion Walk & Family Fun Fair is quickly approaching. Registration for the walk is $35 (with event t-shirt) and $15 (without t-shirt). The one-mile walk will take place through the city of Akron in the area of North High School, with the FINISH LINE culminating at our Family Fun Fair location, Out of the Box Community Center (1011 Gorge Blvd.).

New this year, our Family Fun Fair will feature activities for kids, raffle baskets, bounce house, LIVE musical performances, variety of vendors, great food, and much much more!

This event helps Zane's, Inc. continue its mission to provide services for children and adults with special needs in Northeastern Ohio. For more information call 330-677-9263 or email info@zanesinc.org

On behalf of the families that we serve in Northeast Ohio, we thank you for support. We could not continue our mission to provide resources to children and adults with special needs without your support.

Family Support Fund Initiative Update

Congratulations to all of our third quarter recipients! Funds were awarded to eight families for summer camp at various places in Northeast Ohio. The total amount of funds that were awarded were $4785.

Congratulations to the recipients! The FSF Committee is already hard at work processing the next group of applications. Thank you FSF Committee!

Kings Island, Cedar Point mark Autism Awareness Week

For those with autism, going to an amusement park with lots of people in it can be a scary place.

Kings Island in Mason and Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, are trying to reach out to those with autism and their families during Autism Awareness Week.

“For people with autism, a trip to Kings Island can be a challenge,” said Don Helbig, area manager of digital marketing at the park. “Special services and features have been set up during Autism Awareness Week at Kings Island so all guests can enjoy a great day at the park.”

Helbig says the park provides quiet and sensory spaces at the first aid station and the Fischer Homes Family Care Center. In addition, the park offers gluten free, fresh fruit and salad options, and will offer daily sensory-friendly shows at PEANUTS in the Festhaus and Gravity, a cirque-style show in the Kings Island Theater. The park’s International Street will be lit up in blue to mark the week.

Cedar Point officials are also trying to battle the same issue.

“A trip to Cedar Point can be overstimulating, so we’re providing additional information for you to make your visit even better,” Director of Communications Tony Clark said.

At Cedar Point, officials added a sensory room to FrontierTown First Aid, located near the Jitney Arcade. A “sensory pack” with headphones, fidget toys, nonverbal communication cards and weighted lap blankets is also offered for daily checkout.

This was in remembrance of Mike Hull, who organized similar events for the community before his death in 2012.

The event also included a free bowling and pizza party for adults and children with special needs.

Organizers said they were trying to help assist those affected by autism, which continues to become more widespread.

"Autism continues to be on the grow. It hasn't ceased, so there's going to be more and more families that need help and sometimes you can't just make ends meet and you can't provide the simple things to make ends meet like an iPad for your child to communicate, so that's where we come in," said Melissa Kalaman, Mike Hull's sister.

Summer Drop-In drama classes on Saturdays throughout the summer. No need to register. Just drop by for an all ages class from 10 - 11 AM. We'll be working with improv, masks, and favorite theatre games. All classes are $25. Dates for summer drop in classes are:

The main event is for kids in grades K-12 but, we need the help of adults like you to make it a success and to support our larger mission-giving local children the resources they need to learn to grow.

The next Summit for Kids event will be on Saturday, August 18th from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. No matter if you are wanting to be a sponsor, partner, volunteer or guest, make sure you mark your calendars for 2018. It's an event you do not want to miss!